August 2023
25 August - GCSE arts entries plummet for ninth year in row, 'alarming' data shows
Entry to GCSE arts subjects has declined for the ninth year in a row, with Campaign for the Arts warning that the “alarming” trend should be a “wake-up call” to address the loss of creative subjects from secondary schools.
24 August - ENO's Stuart Murphy says ACE's silence is 'baffling' in departing letter
English National Opera outgoing chief executive Stuart Murphy has said he “fundamentally disagreed” with Arts Council England’s decision to defund the organisation and accused the funding body of “baffling” silenc
24 August - Ten percent of a little is still a little – stage directors must ask for more
What the industry is facing today – an exodus of talent due to poor pay and conditions – is unprecedented and yet sadly unsurprising.
23 August - Impact of Brexit damaging music sector
ISM report says difficulty and expense related to touring in the EU is impacting the viability of working musicians and is undermining the UK’s soft power.
23 August - Theatremakers call for action over sexual harassment at EdFringe
Theatremakers have called for more to be done to combat sexual harassment at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, as one organisation claimed reports of incidents had doubled compared with this time last year.
23 August - ‘Extremely alarming’ pay gap in Ireland’s creative industries
Creatives in Ireland’s music and performing arts sectors are earning less than two-thirds of their counterparts in other industries, according to the findings of a new survey.
22 August - Quarter of music industry workers have had no work in EU since Brexit
Almost half of UK musicians and workers in the music industry have had less work in the EU since Brexit than before it, and more than a quarter have had no EU work at all, according to a survey.
21 August - Creative Scotland warns of 'highly competitive' funding round
The total amount requested by over 500 cultural and creative organisations in Scotland outstrips the funder’s annual income by over £16m.
21 August - Brit School North to open in Bradford
A new Brit School North is to open in Bradford with the aim of making the creative industries more accessible to young people from all backgrounds.
21 August - Theatre’s model is broken
In the face of increasing numbers of theatre leaders leaving their roles, David Micklem thinks it’s time the whole business model underwent a radical rethink.
21 August - Creative Scotland to support 'far fewer' organisations under new scheme
Creative Scotland has reiterated a warning that it will be forced to cut the number of arts organisations it supports unless it receives more funding from the Scottish government
16 August - Lack of creative careers awareness
Concerns raised that school leavers are not being informed of opportunities in the creative industries.
14 August - DCMS ditches Cultural Commissioner role
Role created by government to help the cultural sector recover from the impact of Covid pandemic is axed three-and-a-half years after its inception.
14 August - Quantity over quality? It's time we rethink the fringe model
The EdFringe’s strapline this year encourages audiences to “fill yer boots”. This suggests an all-you-can-eat sentiment, says Lyn Gardner, who argues that change is needed so we can stop seeing a few grab all the buns while artists and workers are left to go hungry
10 August - SOLT defends ticket prices following criticism from David Tennant
Society of London Theatre co-chief executive Claire Walker has hit back at David Tennant’s criticism of “ludicrous” West End ticket prices, highlighting that average ticket prices have decreased when adjusted for inflation
10 August - NPO revenue from international activity halves
Arts Council England study finds international environment has become “increasingly complex” for English cultural organisations and practitioners to navigate.
09 August - Drama Schools Uncovered: Prestigious UK Institutions Are Breeding Grounds For Sexual Harassment & Racism
Britain’s most revered drama schools have been hit with nearly 100 complaints about sexual harassment, discrimination, and bullying over the past three years, a Deadline investigation can reveal.
8 August - Divided opinion over Scottish theatres plan
A new report calls for a commercially-driven theatre company specialising in popular work to be established in Scotland.